DUSTAN, James & SMITH, Elspet - Scotland to Ohio c 1841 to 1850

[Seaton Smithy]

This post follows on from here: https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=761169 and is also related to: https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=784656

Elspet Smith was born in Leochel-Cushnie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland in 1814.  Her parents were William Smith and Euphemia Laing (aka Reid) who both died in Coull, Aberdeenshire, Scotland in 1835.

In 1834 Elspet married James Dunstan – on 8 June in Lumphanan and on 20 June in Leochel-Cushnie. I think this is likely to be the James Dunstan born in 1810 in Rothes and Dundurcas, Moray, parents James Dustan and Jannet Fimmister.

Children born to Elspet and James in Leochel-Cushnie were: William (1835), John (1836), Alexander Taylor (1838), James (1841) and Samuel (1842).

The family (except for Samuel) appear on the 1841 Scotland census living at Woodside in Coull. James is a Tailor and living with them are George Bandeen, Apprentice Tailor, and Ann Laing (possible relative of Euphemia? Must follow that up), Female servant.

I am not certain of what happens to Elspeth after 1841 - although just recently I may potentially have found James - but in 1850 their 5 sons are all living in Ohio.

William is in Scipio, La Porte, Indiana in the home of John & Elmira Hayne (relationship to William not known).


John is also in Scipio, La Porte, Indiana in the home of John & Mary Watson (relationship to John not known - Mary is shown as born in England and too old to be his aunt Mary Smith from Leochel-Cushnie).


Alexander and Samuel are in Essex, Porter, Indiana in the home of Samuel and Eve Smith and their son William. Although the age shown on the census differs, this appears to be their maternal uncle Samuel Smith born in 1819 in Leochel-Cushnie.


James is in La Porte, La Porte, Indiana in the home of G A Rose (Physician) and his wife Ann (relationship to James not known). In 1860 it appears he is still in La Porte in the home of Seth and Pauline Easton (relationship to James not known) although he is shown as born in Indiana.

I will publish a separate post with the potential information I have found for each son and James Senior.

Any further potential information, particularly for Elspet (Smith) Dustan, William Dustan, James Dustan Junior and Alexander Dustan’s daughter Elizabeth/Ellsbit/Elspet Dustan, greatly appreciated.

[Seaton Smithy]

William

I have not found any records after the 1850 census that appear to connect to William Dustan born 1835 in Scotland to James Dustan and Elspet Smith.

[Seaton Smithy]

John

In 1868 there is John Dustan, Farmer, age 31 born Scotland on the California voter register in Solano County. The adjacent entry is for Alexander Taylor Dustan, Clerk, age 29 born Scotland.

On the 1880 census for Umatilla County in Oregon there is a John Duston, Keeper of Livery, age 40 born Scotland with no spouse recorded.

On 1 September 1884 in Walla Walla County, Washington, John Dustan marries Paulina Freese (this appears to be Paulina Emmaztta Friese born 1865 in Walla Walla County.

On 1 December 1884, John Dustan dies in Umatilla County.  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6609950

The birth date on his memorial in the Milton-Freewater IOOF Cemetery accords with the John Dustan born in Leochel-Cushnie in 1836.

Paulina remarries on 1 September 1885.

[Seaton Smithy]

Alexander

In 1868 there is Alexander Taylor Dustan, Clerk, age 29 born Scotland on the California voter register in Solano County. The adjacent entry is for John Dustan, Farmer, age 31 born Scotland.

The 1870 census shows Alexander Dustin, Labourer, age 33 born Scotland in San Francisco with his wife Margaret age 23 born England and their daughter Elsbitt (according to Ancestry) or Elizabeth (according to Familysearch) age 1 – I wonder if this meant to be Elspet?

The 1878 voter register shows Alexander Taylor Dustan, Boilermaker, age 39 born Scotland in San Francisco.

US General Land Office records show Alexander T Dustan acquiring land in Umatilla, Oregon in July 1909.

The 1910 census shows Alexander T Dustan, age 71 born Scotland & widowed in Umatilla County, Oregon.

The Oregon death index shows the death of Alexander Dustin on 7 October 1921 in Umatilla. The Findagrave entry indicates he was a resident or patient of the Eastern Oregon Hospital & Training Centre.

The move to Umatilla suggests a possible connection to John.

[Seaton Smithy]

James Junior

The 1870 census shows James Dustan, Farmer, age 27 born Scotland in Shawnee County, Kansas with his wife Sarah, age 22 born Illinois.

The age is about right and there does not appear to be another James Dustan born in Scotland around this time period. I have not found much else that ties this man to the James Dustan born in Leochel-Cushnie except that Samuel Dustan appears to live nearby in Topeka, Kansas.

[Seaton Smithy]

Samuel

In 1881 in Detroit, Michigan Samuel Dustan age 31 born Scotland, residing Topeka, Kansas marries Celia Esther Moore age 18, born & residing in Sandusky, Ohio.

Samuel Dustan dies on 29 March 1920 in Columbus, Ohio.  His wife is named as Celia E Dustan and his parents are named as James Dustan and Elizabeth Smith.  His birth place is shown as Glasgow, Scotland but there does not appear to be any record of a Samuel Dustan born in Glasgow.  The date of birth accords with the Samuel Dustan born in Leochel-Cushnie.

The memorial at Findagrave records him as Lieutenant Samuel Dustan, hero of 46 battles. There are a number of military records associated with Samuel.

I have found several census records for Samuel & Celia, but in this case the death record appears reasonably conclusive.

Samuel & Celia appear to have had one son, John Roy Dustan born 1883 Ohio died 1958 Florida who was married in 1916 to Ethel Wiest born 1890 Pennsylvania died 1975 Florida.

Note: I have found trees and message board posts that associate the Samuel Dustan born in Leochel-Cushnie in 1842 with the Sam S Dustin who married Louise or Carrie Dushan, DeCoine or Ducharme and had children in Montana. The death record for the Samuel Dustan who dies in Ohio in 1920 would suggest that Sam Dustin is another man.

[Seaton Smithy]

James Senior

In 1859, the Sacramento Bee reports the 22 May marriage of James Dustan to Ann More.

The 1860 census shows James Dustan, Tailor, age 45 born Scotland in Solano County, California with his wife Anne, age 35 born Ireland.

The 1880 census shows James Dustan, Tailor, age 42 born Scotland in Yolo County.  He is shown as married but his wife is not listed with him.  Based on the stated age he is a bit old for James Junior and far too young to be James Senior but the occupation as Tailor suggests a connection so it may be the age is an error.

The Oregon Death Index shows James Dustan of Umatilla County dies on 17 November 1893. He is shown as age 90 and born in Scotland. The location suggests a possible connection to John and Alexander.